Cornetto ban flout: Young Libs 'spoilt little rich kids'

A PAIR of New South Wales Young Liberals have drawn the ire of Facebook users after posting a photo of themselves flouting the ice cream boycott created to support employees.

The duo were pictured enjoying Cornettos at Sydney's Circular Quay, along with the caption: "Quick #cornettocaucus to support Streets Ice Cream. Nothing wrong with Australian jobs and investment. #reverseboycott #oneicecreamatatime."

But Facebook users responded with fury, calling them "out of touch", "uncool and distasteful" and "spoilt little rich kids who have no social conscience."

Others posted hashtag #whiteprivilege and criticised the two young people for their apparent lack of compassion for struggling workers.

One wrote: "It is great to see Liberals making it clear about what they really think of working people. Well done on your honesty."

Another added: "Entitled, clueless, chinless aristocrat wannabes. So out of touch with Australian values. Maybe for your next picture you can take a selfie in front of a sweatshop."

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union on Sunday announced the boycott of Streets ice cream's popular treats, including Paddle Pops and Golden Gaytimes, over a potential 46 per cent pay cut for factory workers.

Australia's largest ice cream manufacturer is owned by multinational consumer goods giant Unilever, which has said it will end an enterprise agreement with the Streets factory in Minto, in southwestern Sydney.

It is launching a $250,000 "Streets Free Summer" blitz on social and traditional media, calling for everyone to boycott snacks such as Blue Ribbon, Magnum, Viennetta and Calippo to protect the rights of the 140 workers.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has announced a boycott of Streets ice cream over a potential 46 per cent pay cut for factory workers.

"Streets' application to the Fair Work Commission to terminate its enterprise agreement is likely to get up," AMWU media director George Simon told news.com.au at the weekend. "That means workers go back to the award rate, which is 46 per cent less than what they are getting now."

AMWU secretary Steve Murphy said "the only way to make this global corporation listen is to hit them where it hurts", adding that the issue was bigger than just Streets, and "a threat to every Australian worker's pay, conditions and security of their job."

Australian Council of Trade Union secretary Sally McManus said Streets and Unilever was engaged in an "abuse of corporate power" that had to be challenged.

Unilever released a statement announcing its application with Fair Work Australia to terminate the existing enterprise agreement and saying it wanted "to create more flexible working conditions and enhance the competitiveness and viability of the factory".

Unilever denies a new agreement will result in a 46 per cent drop in workers' pay.